Marine snipers posed with SS symbol

A Marines scout sniper team in Afghanistan posed for a photograph with the Nazi SS symbol, the U.S. Marine Corps confirmed Thursday - calling it unacceptable.

“Certainly, the use of the ‘SS runes’ is not acceptable and Scout Snipers have been addressed concerning this issue,” Capt Brian Block said in a statement.

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The Marines in the photograph are no longer with the unit, Block said.

The picture was taken in September 2010 in Sangin province, Afghanistan, and the Marines were with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. In the image, the Marines are pictured in front of a flag resembling the Nazi SS insignia and the American flag.

The Marine inspector general became aware of the SS flag photo in November, Block said. The investigation found that the Marines had not meant to identify themselves with the Nazi paramilitary force, but as scout snipers, The Associated Press reported.

Block did not state what action the Marines specifically took in response to the photograph, but added, “Rest assured, the Marine Corps does not allow the use of ‘SS runes.’”